The historic flooding to ravage Louisiana has claimed at least 13 lives, made 20 parishes federal disaster areas and forced thousands of people from their homes. To help those in the equipment rental industry, their families, and communities that have been severely impacted by this disaster, the ARA Foundation has donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross for first-responder relief efforts.
“Disaster relief is a major initiative of the ARA Foundation. The disaster that has hit Louisiana and will continue to impact the area for a long time to come has resulted in loss of human life and devastation of lives and property. The ARA Foundation board of trustees felt it was a natural extension of its mission to help in this way,” says Christine Wehrman, ARA Foundation executive director.
The unique aspect of this disaster is that the “waters rose astonishingly high in places that historically have not experienced flooding,” according to National Public Radio’s Debbie Elliott. “Even for a state accustomed to natural disasters, this flood is like nothing they’ve ever seen before,” she says.
In Livingston Parish, alone, “31 inches of rain fell in 15 hours,” according to CNN.
"Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now," says Brad Kieserman, the Red Cross' vice president of disaster services operations and logistics, as reported by CNN.
“The ARA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the equipment rental industry. It is there to help those in our industry and the communities they serve,” Wehrman says. “This donation is a testament to that dedication to help in times of need.”
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
